diff --git a/kernel/driver/fs/ext2/src/dir/mod.rs b/kernel/driver/fs/ext2/src/dir/mod.rs
index f33366b7..108627d2 100644
--- a/kernel/driver/fs/ext2/src/dir/mod.rs
+++ b/kernel/driver/fs/ext2/src/dir/mod.rs
@@ -11,7 +11,10 @@ use libk::{
     block,
     error::Error,
     time::real_time,
-    vfs::{CommonImpl, DirectoryImpl, DirectoryOpenPosition, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef},
+    vfs::{
+        CommonImpl, DirectoryImpl, DirectoryOpenPosition, Filename, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags,
+        NodeRef,
+    },
 };
 use walk::{DirentIter, DirentIterMut};
 use yggdrasil_abi::io::{DirectoryEntry, FileMode, FileType};
@@ -38,11 +41,11 @@ impl DirentName<'_> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<'a> TryFrom<&'a str> for DirentName<'a> {
+impl<'a> TryFrom<&'a Filename> for DirentName<'a> {
     type Error = Error;
 
-    fn try_from(value: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
-        if value.len() >= 255 || value.is_empty() || value.contains('/') {
+    fn try_from(value: &'a Filename) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        if value.len() >= 255 {
             return Err(Error::InvalidArgument);
         }
         Ok(Self(value))
@@ -359,7 +362,7 @@ impl DirectoryImpl for DirectoryNode {
         Err(Error::NotImplemented)
     }
 
-    fn lookup(&self, _node: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
+    fn lookup(&self, _node: &NodeRef, name: &Filename) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
         let name = DirentName::try_from(name)?;
         block!(self.lookup_entry(name).await)?
     }
@@ -375,7 +378,12 @@ impl DirectoryImpl for DirectoryNode {
         block!(InodeAccess::allocate(&self.fs, ty, mode, Some(self.inode.ino())).await)?
     }
 
-    fn attach_node(&self, _parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    fn attach_node(
+        &self,
+        _parent: &NodeRef,
+        child: &NodeRef,
+        name: &Filename,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
         if self.fs.force_readonly {
             return Err(Error::ReadOnly);
         }
@@ -391,7 +399,12 @@ impl DirectoryImpl for DirectoryNode {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    fn unlink_node(&self, _parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    fn unlink_node(
+        &self,
+        _parent: &NodeRef,
+        child: &NodeRef,
+        name: &Filename,
+    ) -> Result<(), Error> {
         if self.fs.force_readonly {
             return Err(Error::ReadOnly);
         }
diff --git a/kernel/driver/fs/memfs/src/lib.rs b/kernel/driver/fs/memfs/src/lib.rs
index 1bd5f4ce..ca948667 100644
--- a/kernel/driver/fs/memfs/src/lib.rs
+++ b/kernel/driver/fs/memfs/src/lib.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use alloc::sync::Arc;
 use block::BlockAllocator;
 use dir::DirectoryNode;
 use file::FileNode;
-use libk::vfs::{impls::fixed_path_symlink, AccessToken, Filesystem, Metadata, NodeRef};
+use libk::vfs::{impls::fixed_path_symlink, AccessToken, Filename, Filesystem, Metadata, NodeRef};
 use libk_util::sync::IrqSafeSpinlock;
 use tar::TarEntry;
 use yggdrasil_abi::{
@@ -80,8 +80,10 @@ impl<A: BlockAllocator> MemoryFilesystem<A> {
         assert!(!element.is_empty());
         assert!(!element.contains('/'));
 
+        let filename = Filename::new(element)?;
+
         // let node = at.lookup(element);
-        let node = at.lookup_or_load(element, access);
+        let node = at.lookup_or_load(filename, access);
         let node = match node {
             Ok(node) => node,
             Err(Error::DoesNotExist) => {
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ impl<A: BlockAllocator> MemoryFilesystem<A> {
                 }
 
                 let node = DirectoryNode::<A>::new(self.clone(), Metadata::now_root(mode));
-                at.add_child(element, node.clone())?;
+                at.add_child(filename, node.clone())?;
 
                 node
             }
@@ -140,6 +142,7 @@ impl<A: BlockAllocator> MemoryFilesystem<A> {
             let (dirname, filename) = path.split_right();
             let parent = self.make_path(&root, dirname, true, FileMode::new(0o755))?;
             let node = self.create_node_initial(hdr)?;
+            let filename = Filename::new(filename)?;
 
             parent.add_child(filename, node)?;
         }
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/fs/devfs.rs b/kernel/libk/src/fs/devfs.rs
index b8181dfe..7402cda6 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/fs/devfs.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/fs/devfs.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 //! Device virtual file system
 
-use alloc::{string::String, sync::Arc};
+use alloc::sync::Arc;
 use libk_util::OneTimeInit;
 use yggdrasil_abi::{error::Error, io::FileMode};
 
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ use crate::{
     device::{block::BlockDevice, char::CharDevice},
     vfs::{
         impls::{fixed_path_symlink, MemoryDirectory},
+        path::OwnedFilename,
         AccessToken, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef,
     },
 };
@@ -29,21 +30,24 @@ pub fn root() -> &'static NodeRef {
     DEVFS_ROOT.get()
 }
 
-pub fn redirect(name: &str, destination: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+pub fn redirect<S: AsRef<str>>(name: S, destination: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let name = name.as_ref();
     log::info!("Redirect {name} -> {destination}");
 
     let root = DEVFS_ROOT.get();
-    root.remove_file(name, unsafe { AccessToken::authorized() })
+    let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
+    root.remove_file(filename.as_ref(), unsafe { AccessToken::authorized() })
         .ok();
-    root.add_child(name, fixed_path_symlink(destination))
+    root.add_child(filename, fixed_path_symlink(destination))
 }
 
 /// Adds a character device with a custom name
-pub fn add_named_char_device(
+pub fn add_named_char_device<S: AsRef<str>>(
     dev: Arc<dyn CharDevice>,
-    name: String,
+    name: S,
     mode: FileMode,
 ) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    let name = name.as_ref();
     log::info!("Add char device: {}", name);
 
     let node = Node::char(
@@ -53,16 +57,17 @@ pub fn add_named_char_device(
         None,
     );
 
-    DEVFS_ROOT.get().add_child(name, node)
+    let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
+    DEVFS_ROOT.get().add_child(filename, node)
 }
 
 /// Adds a block device with a custom name
-pub fn add_named_block_device<S: Into<String>>(
+pub fn add_named_block_device<S: AsRef<str>>(
     dev: Arc<dyn BlockDevice>,
     name: S,
     mode: FileMode,
 ) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
-    let name = name.into();
+    let name = name.as_ref();
     log::info!("Add block device: {}", name);
 
     let node = Node::block(
@@ -72,7 +77,8 @@ pub fn add_named_block_device<S: Into<String>>(
         None,
     );
 
-    DEVFS_ROOT.get().add_child(name, node.clone())?;
+    let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
+    DEVFS_ROOT.get().add_child(filename, node.clone())?;
 
     Ok(node)
 }
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/bytes.rs b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/bytes.rs
index a1b4e39f..dd4b7109 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/bytes.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/bytes.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
 
 use crate::{
     fs::sysfs::object::KObject,
-    vfs::{CommonImpl, InstanceData, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef, RegularImpl},
+    vfs::{CommonImpl, Filename, InstanceData, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef, RegularImpl},
 };
 
 use super::Attribute;
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ impl<V: BytesAttributeOps> Attribute<V::Data> for BytesAttribute<V> {
         ))
     }
 
-    fn name(&self) -> &str {
-        V::NAME
+    // TODO implement this properly
+    fn name(&self) -> &Filename {
+        unsafe { Filename::from_str_unchecked(V::NAME) }
     }
 }
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/mod.rs b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/mod.rs
index cecbd61e..5617f452 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/mod.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/mod.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 use alloc::sync::Arc;
 use yggdrasil_abi::error::Error;
 
-use crate::vfs::NodeRef;
+use crate::vfs::{Filename, NodeRef};
 
 use super::object::KObject;
 
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ mod string;
 
 pub trait Attribute<D>: Sync + Send {
     fn instantiate(&self, parent: &Arc<KObject<D>>) -> Result<NodeRef, Error>;
-    fn name(&self) -> &str;
+    fn name(&self) -> &Filename;
 }
 
 pub use bytes::{BytesAttribute, BytesAttributeOps};
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/string.rs b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/string.rs
index 3906ca6e..1a73a1d2 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/string.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/attribute/string.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
 
 use crate::{
     fs::sysfs::object::KObject,
-    vfs::{CommonImpl, InstanceData, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef, RegularImpl},
+    vfs::{CommonImpl, Filename, InstanceData, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef, RegularImpl},
 };
 
 use super::Attribute;
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ impl<V: StringAttributeOps> Attribute<V::Data> for StringAttribute<V> {
         ))
     }
 
-    fn name(&self) -> &str {
-        V::NAME
+    // TODO implement this properly
+    fn name(&self) -> &Filename {
+        unsafe { Filename::from_str_unchecked(V::NAME) }
     }
 }
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/object.rs b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/object.rs
index f87274f2..7e52d80b 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/object.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/fs/sysfs/object.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-use alloc::{string::String, sync::Arc};
+use alloc::sync::Arc;
 use libk_util::OneTimeInit;
 use yggdrasil_abi::{error::Error, io::FileMode};
 
-use crate::vfs::{impls::MemoryDirectory, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags};
+use crate::vfs::{impls::MemoryDirectory, path::OwnedFilename, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags};
 
 use super::attribute::Attribute;
 
@@ -28,12 +28,13 @@ impl<D> KObject<D> {
         Ok(())
     }
 
-    pub fn add_object<S: Into<String>, T>(
+    pub fn add_object<S: AsRef<str>, T>(
         &self,
         name: S,
         child: Arc<KObject<T>>,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        self.node.add_child(name, child.node.clone())
+        let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
+        self.node.add_child(filename, child.node.clone())
     }
 
     pub(super) fn data(&self) -> &D {
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/ioctx.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/ioctx.rs
index 4af88393..1b5c9819 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/ioctx.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/ioctx.rs
@@ -6,10 +6,10 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
 
 use crate::vfs::{
     node::{AccessToken, CreateInfo},
-    FileRef, NodeRef,
+    FileRef, Filename, NodeRef,
 };
 
-use super::Node;
+use super::{path::OwnedFilename, Node};
 
 /// Describes a general filesystem access
 pub enum Action {
@@ -189,15 +189,16 @@ impl IoContext {
                 // let create_mode = mode & !self.umask;
                 let (parent, name) = path.split_right();
                 let parent = self.find(at, parent, true)?;
+                let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
                 let create_info = CreateInfo {
-                    name: name.into(),
+                    name: filename,
                     mode: mode & !self.umask,
                     uid: self.uid,
                     gid: self.gid,
                     ty: FileType::File,
                 };
                 let access = self.check_access(&parent, AccessMode::WRITE)?;
-                parent.create(&create_info, access)?
+                parent.create(create_info, access)?
             }
             Err(err) => return Err(err),
         };
@@ -232,15 +233,16 @@ impl IoContext {
         let (parent, name) = path.split_right();
         let parent = self.find(at, parent, true)?;
         let access = self.check_access(&parent, AccessMode::WRITE)?;
+        let filename = OwnedFilename::new(name)?;
         let create_info = CreateInfo {
-            name: name.into(),
+            name: filename,
             ty: FileType::Directory,
             uid: self.uid,
             gid: self.gid,
             mode: mode & !self.umask,
         };
 
-        parent.create(&create_info, access)
+        parent.create(create_info, access)
     }
 
     /// Creates an arbitrary node at given path
@@ -255,7 +257,8 @@ impl IoContext {
         let parent = self.find(at, parent, true)?;
         let access = self.check_access(&parent, AccessMode::WRITE)?;
 
-        parent.create_node(node, name, access)?;
+        let filename = Filename::new(name)?;
+        parent.create_node(node, filename, access)?;
 
         Ok(())
     }
@@ -281,7 +284,8 @@ impl IoContext {
             // parent.remove_directory(name, access)
             todo!()
         } else {
-            parent.remove_file(name, access)
+            let filename = Filename::new(name)?;
+            parent.remove_file(filename, access)
         }
     }
 
@@ -330,6 +334,9 @@ impl IoContext {
             (node, dst_name)
         };
 
+        let src_name = Filename::new(src_name)?;
+        let dst_name = Filename::new(dst_name)?;
+
         let access = self.check_access(&src_node, AccessMode::READ | AccessMode::WRITE)?
             + self.check_access(&dst_node, AccessMode::WRITE)?;
 
@@ -485,7 +492,8 @@ impl IoContext {
             }
 
             let access = self.check_access(&node, AccessMode::EXEC)?;
-            let child = node.lookup_or_load(name, access)?.flatten_hardlink()?;
+            let filename = Filename::new(name)?;
+            let child = node.lookup_or_load(filename, access)?.flatten_hardlink()?;
 
             let follow_links = follow_link || !tail.is_empty();
 
@@ -538,7 +546,8 @@ impl IoContext {
         }
 
         let access = self.check_access(&at, AccessMode::EXEC)?;
-        let node = at.lookup_or_load(element, access)?.flatten_hardlink()?;
+        let filename = Filename::new(element)?;
+        let node = at.lookup_or_load(filename, access)?.flatten_hardlink()?;
         let node = self._resolve(node, follow_links)?;
 
         if rest.is_empty() {
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/mod.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/mod.rs
index 03726d71..cf45f8be 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/mod.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/mod.rs
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ pub use node::{
     impls, AccessToken, CommonImpl, CreateInfo, DirectoryImpl, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef,
     RegularImpl, SymlinkImpl,
 };
+pub use path::{Filename, OwnedFilename};
 pub use poll::FdPoll;
 pub use pty::{PseudoTerminalMaster, PseudoTerminalSlave};
 pub use shared_memory::SharedMemory;
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/impls.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/impls.rs
index 292c147a..02b3d8db 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/impls.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/impls.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 //! Various helper node implementations for convenience
-use core::{marker::PhantomData, str::FromStr};
+use core::{fmt, marker::PhantomData, str::FromStr};
 
 use alloc::{
     string::{String, ToString},
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
     io::{FileMode, FileType, OpenOptions},
 };
 
-use crate::vfs::{DirectoryOpenPosition, InstanceData};
+use crate::vfs::{path::OwnedFilename, DirectoryOpenPosition, InstanceData};
 
 use super::{
     traits::HardlinkImpl, CommonImpl, DirectoryImpl, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeRef,
@@ -464,7 +464,10 @@ pub fn read_fn_node<R: ReadFn + 'static>(read: R) -> NodeRef {
 }
 
 /// Creates an in-memory directory from the iterator
-pub fn mdir<S: Into<String>, I: IntoIterator<Item = (S, NodeRef)>>(it: I) -> NodeRef {
+pub fn mdir<S: TryInto<OwnedFilename>, I: IntoIterator<Item = (S, NodeRef)>>(it: I) -> NodeRef
+where
+    S::Error: fmt::Debug,
+{
     let dir = Node::directory(
         MemoryDirectory,
         NodeFlags::IN_MEMORY_PROPS | NodeFlags::IN_MEMORY_SIZE,
@@ -472,7 +475,7 @@ pub fn mdir<S: Into<String>, I: IntoIterator<Item = (S, NodeRef)>>(it: I) -> Nod
         None,
     );
     for (name, node) in it {
-        dir.add_child(name, node).unwrap();
+        dir.add_child(name.try_into().unwrap(), node).unwrap();
     }
     dir
 }
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/mod.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/mod.rs
index 2ed5a19f..44599688 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/mod.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/mod.rs
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ use crate::{
 };
 
 use super::{
+    path::OwnedFilename,
     pty::{PseudoTerminalMaster, PseudoTerminalSlave},
     Filesystem,
 };
@@ -60,7 +61,7 @@ bitflags! {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone)]
 pub struct CreateInfo {
     /// New entry name
-    pub name: String,
+    pub name: OwnedFilename,
     /// User ID of the entry
     pub uid: UserId,
     /// Group ID of the entry
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ pub struct CreateInfo {
 pub(crate) struct DirectoryData {
     pub(crate) imp: Box<dyn DirectoryImpl>,
     pub(crate) mountpoint: IrqSafeSpinlock<Option<NodeRef>>,
-    pub(crate) children: IrqSafeSpinlock<Vec<(String, NodeRef)>>,
+    pub(crate) children: IrqSafeSpinlock<Vec<(OwnedFilename, NodeRef)>>,
 }
 
 pub(crate) struct SymlinkData {
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/ops.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/ops.rs
index e698ec21..872e6425 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/ops.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/ops.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,11 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
     io::{DeviceRequest, DirectoryEntry, FileMode, GroupId, OpenOptions, UserId},
 };
 
-use crate::vfs::file::{File, FileRef};
+use crate::vfs::{
+    file::{File, FileRef},
+    path::OwnedFilename,
+    Filename,
+};
 
 use super::{AccessToken, CreateInfo, DirectoryData, Metadata, Node, NodeFlags, NodeImpl, NodeRef};
 
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ impl Node {
     /// filesystem.
     pub fn lookup_or_load(
         self: &NodeRef,
-        name: &str,
+        name: &Filename,
         _check: AccessToken,
     ) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
         let dir = self.as_directory()?;
@@ -99,7 +103,7 @@ impl Node {
     }
 
     /// Creates an entry within a directory with given [CreateInfo].
-    pub fn create(self: &NodeRef, info: &CreateInfo, check: AccessToken) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
+    pub fn create(self: &NodeRef, info: CreateInfo, check: AccessToken) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
         let directory = self.as_directory()?;
         let node = directory.imp.create_node(self, info.ty)?;
 
@@ -111,31 +115,32 @@ impl Node {
             check.clone(),
         )?;
 
-        self.create_node(node, &info.name, check)
+        self.create_node(node, info.name, check)
     }
 
     /// Attaches a pre-created node to its parent
-    pub fn create_node(
+    pub fn create_node<F: Into<OwnedFilename>>(
         self: &NodeRef,
         node: NodeRef,
-        name: &str,
+        name: F,
         _check: AccessToken,
     ) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
+        let filename = name.into();
         let directory = self.as_directory()?;
 
-        match directory.imp.attach_node(self, &node, name) {
+        match directory.imp.attach_node(self, &node, filename.as_ref()) {
             Ok(_) | Err(Error::NotImplemented) => (),
             Err(err) => return Err(err),
         }
 
         // Attach the created node to the directory in memory cache
-        self.add_child(name, node.clone())?;
+        self.add_child(filename, node.clone())?;
 
         Ok(node)
     }
 
     /// Removes a regular file, device or symlink from the directory
-    pub fn remove_file(self: &NodeRef, name: &str, check: AccessToken) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    pub fn remove_file(self: &NodeRef, name: &Filename, check: AccessToken) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let directory = self.as_directory()?;
         let child = self.lookup_or_load(name, check)?;
 
@@ -166,12 +171,10 @@ impl Node {
     pub fn move_node(
         source: &NodeRef,
         destination: &NodeRef,
-        source_name: &str,
-        destination_name: &str,
+        source_name: &Filename,
+        destination_name: &Filename,
         access: AccessToken,
     ) -> Result<(), Error> {
-        // TODO sanity checks: source and destination is not the same
-        //                     filenames are valid
         if !Self::is_same_filesystem(source, destination) {
             return Err(Error::CrossDeviceLink);
         }
@@ -295,7 +298,7 @@ impl Node {
 }
 
 impl DirectoryData {
-    fn remove_child(&self, name: &str) {
+    fn remove_child(&self, name: &Filename) {
         let mut children = self.children.lock();
 
         children.retain(|(t, child)| {
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/traits.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/traits.rs
index 0904f0f7..2607e8d1 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/traits.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/traits.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,10 @@ use yggdrasil_abi::{
     io::{DirectoryEntry, FileType, OpenOptions},
 };
 
-use crate::vfs::file::{DirectoryOpenPosition, InstanceData};
+use crate::vfs::{
+    file::{DirectoryOpenPosition, InstanceData},
+    Filename,
+};
 
 use super::{Metadata, NodeRef};
 
@@ -124,7 +127,7 @@ pub trait DirectoryImpl: CommonImpl {
     }
 
     /// Associates the given node with the directory, creating an entry for it inside
-    fn attach_node(&self, parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    fn attach_node(&self, parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &Filename) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let _ = parent;
         let _ = child;
         let _ = name;
@@ -132,7 +135,7 @@ pub trait DirectoryImpl: CommonImpl {
     }
 
     /// Removes an entry of the directory with given name
-    fn unlink_node(&self, parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<(), Error> {
+    fn unlink_node(&self, parent: &NodeRef, child: &NodeRef, name: &Filename) -> Result<(), Error> {
         let _ = parent;
         let _ = child;
         let _ = name;
@@ -140,7 +143,7 @@ pub trait DirectoryImpl: CommonImpl {
     }
 
     /// Fetches the child of the directory with given name
-    fn lookup(&self, node: &NodeRef, name: &str) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
+    fn lookup(&self, node: &NodeRef, name: &Filename) -> Result<NodeRef, Error> {
         let _ = node;
         let _ = name;
         Err(Error::NotImplemented)
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/tree.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/tree.rs
index 5e701fa1..5c7b16d5 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/tree.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/node/tree.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 use yggdrasil_abi::error::Error;
 
-use alloc::string::String;
+use crate::vfs::path::OwnedFilename;
 
 use super::{Node, NodeRef};
 
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ impl Node {
     }
 
     /// Adds an entry to the directory tree cache
-    pub fn add_child<S: Into<String>>(
+    pub fn add_child<S: Into<OwnedFilename>>(
         self: &NodeRef,
         name: S,
         child: NodeRef,
diff --git a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/path.rs b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/path.rs
index e69de29b..c39971c7 100644
--- a/kernel/libk/src/vfs/path.rs
+++ b/kernel/libk/src/vfs/path.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,167 @@
+use core::{borrow::Borrow, fmt, mem, ops::Deref};
+
+use alloc::{boxed::Box, string::String};
+
+use yggdrasil_abi::error::Error;
+
+#[derive(PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[repr(transparent)]
+pub struct Filename(str);
+
+#[derive(Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Debug, Hash, PartialOrd, Ord)]
+#[repr(transparent)]
+pub struct OwnedFilename(Box<str>);
+
+impl Filename {
+    pub const DOT: &'static Filename = unsafe { Self::from_str_unchecked(".") };
+    pub const DOT_DOT: &'static Filename = unsafe { Self::from_str_unchecked("..") };
+
+    pub fn is_dot_or_dotdot(&self) -> bool {
+        matches!(&self.0, "." | "..")
+    }
+
+    pub fn new(name: &str) -> Result<&Self, Error> {
+        if !name.is_empty() && !name.contains('/') {
+            Ok(unsafe { Self::from_str_unchecked(name) })
+        } else {
+            Err(Error::InvalidArgument)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// # Safety
+    ///
+    /// The function is memory safe, but is still marked unsafe because it does not check
+    /// the filename validity invariants.
+    #[inline(always)]
+    pub const unsafe fn from_str_unchecked(name: &str) -> &Self {
+        mem::transmute(name)
+    }
+}
+
+impl AsRef<str> for Filename {
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for Filename {
+    type Target = str;
+
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for Filename {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        fmt::Display::fmt(&self.0, f)
+    }
+}
+
+impl OwnedFilename {
+    pub fn new<S: AsRef<str>>(filename: S) -> Result<Self, Error> {
+        Filename::new(filename.as_ref()).map(Self::from)
+    }
+}
+
+impl AsRef<str> for OwnedFilename {
+    #[inline]
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &str {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl AsRef<Filename> for OwnedFilename {
+    #[inline]
+    fn as_ref(&self) -> &Filename {
+        unsafe { Filename::from_str_unchecked(&self.0) }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Deref for OwnedFilename {
+    type Target = str;
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+        &self.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryFrom<&str> for OwnedFilename {
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn try_from(value: &str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        Self::new(value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl TryFrom<String> for OwnedFilename {
+    type Error = Error;
+
+    fn try_from(value: String) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+        Self::new(&value)
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&Filename> for OwnedFilename {
+    #[inline]
+    fn from(value: &Filename) -> Self {
+        Self(value.0.into())
+    }
+}
+
+impl Borrow<Filename> for OwnedFilename {
+    fn borrow(&self) -> &Filename {
+        unsafe { Filename::from_str_unchecked(&self.0) }
+    }
+}
+
+impl PartialEq<Filename> for OwnedFilename {
+    fn eq(&self, other: &Filename) -> bool {
+        *self.0 == other.0
+    }
+}
+
+impl fmt::Display for OwnedFilename {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        fmt::Display::fmt(&*self.0, f)
+    }
+}
+
+// impl<'a> TryFrom<&'a str> for Filename<'a> {
+//     type Error = Error;
+//
+//     fn try_from(value: &'a str) -> Result<Self, Self::Error> {
+//         if !value.contains('/') && !value.is_empty() {
+//             Ok(Self(value))
+//         } else {
+//             Err(Error::InvalidArgument)
+//         }
+//     }
+// }
+//
+// impl Deref for Filename<'_> {
+//     type Target = str;
+//
+//     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+//         self.0
+//     }
+// }
+//
+// impl OwnedFilename {
+//     pub fn dot() -> Self {
+//         Self(".".into())
+//     }
+//
+//     pub fn dotdot() -> Self {
+//         Self("..".into())
+//     }
+// }
+//
+// impl Deref for OwnedFilename {
+//     type Target = str;
+//
+//     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
+//         &*self.0
+//     }
+// }
diff --git a/kernel/src/fs/pseudo.rs b/kernel/src/fs/pseudo.rs
index d20a065a..239b89d2 100644
--- a/kernel/src/fs/pseudo.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/fs/pseudo.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use libk::{
     device::char::CharDevice,
     fs::devfs,
     random,
-    vfs::{impls::read_fn_node, FileReadiness},
+    vfs::{impls::read_fn_node, FileReadiness, OwnedFilename},
 };
 
 struct Null;
@@ -87,10 +87,10 @@ pub fn add_pseudo_devices() -> Result<(), Error> {
     });
 
     let root = devfs::root();
-    root.add_child("urandom", urandom)?;
+    root.add_child(OwnedFilename::new("urandom").unwrap(), urandom)?;
 
-    devfs::add_named_char_device(Arc::new(Null), "null".into(), FileMode::new(0o666))?;
-    devfs::add_named_char_device(Arc::new(Zero), "zero".into(), FileMode::new(0o666))?;
+    devfs::add_named_char_device(Arc::new(Null), "null", FileMode::new(0o666))?;
+    devfs::add_named_char_device(Arc::new(Zero), "zero", FileMode::new(0o666))?;
 
     Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/kernel/src/init.rs b/kernel/src/init.rs
index 611f9ff0..f4e0b2a3 100644
--- a/kernel/src/init.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/init.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use libk::{
     fs::devfs,
     random,
     task::{binary::LoadOptions, process::Process, runtime, thread::Thread},
-    vfs::{impls::fn_hardlink, IoContext, NodeRef},
+    vfs::{impls::fn_hardlink, IoContext, NodeRef, OwnedFilename},
 };
 use memfs::MemoryFilesystem;
 
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ pub fn kinit() -> Result<(), Error> {
 
     devfs::root()
         .add_child(
-            "tty",
+            OwnedFilename::new("tty").unwrap(),
             fn_hardlink(|| {
                 let thread = Thread::current();
                 let process = thread.process();
diff --git a/kernel/src/main.rs b/kernel/src/main.rs
index 3a3dae15..0fc18cc0 100644
--- a/kernel/src/main.rs
+++ b/kernel/src/main.rs
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
 #![no_main]
 
 use abi::{error::Error, io::FileMode};
-use alloc::{borrow::ToOwned, string::String};
+use alloc::string::String;
 use arch::Platform;
 use git_version::git_version;
 use kernel_arch::{Architecture, ArchitectureImpl};
@@ -148,11 +148,9 @@ pub fn kernel_main() -> ! {
     CPU_INIT_FENCE.wait_all(ArchitectureImpl::cpu_count());
 
     // Add keyboard device
-    if let Err(error) = devfs::add_named_char_device(
-        ygg_driver_input::setup(),
-        "kbd".to_owned(),
-        FileMode::new(0o660),
-    ) {
+    if let Err(error) =
+        devfs::add_named_char_device(ygg_driver_input::setup(), "kbd", FileMode::new(0o660))
+    {
         log::error!("Couldn't add keyboard device: {error:?}");
     }